The Gujarat High Court Thursday sought reply from the state Home Secretary and Director General of Police on a petition demanding a CBI probe into the killings of three Dalits in Thangadh town of Surendranagar district on September 23.

The petition has been moved by Amarsinh Sumra, father of Pankaj Sumra who was among the youths killed in firing by the Gujarat Police following a tussle between Dalits and a local upper caste person during a traditional fair. The other two victims were Mehul Rathod and Prakash Parmar. Two of the three were 17-year-old.

Amarsinh has demanded that either CBI should probe the case or the investigation be done by a Special Investigation Team in which at least one officer should be of their choice.

He has stated that the four accused police officers are not being arrested even after three months of the incident and notwithstanding the fact that a court has issued arrest warrant against them. He added that police have failed to perform its duty.

The court has kept the matter for further hearing on December 21. The Indian Express had reported that the police had fired from AK 47 assault rifles along with other weapons.

Police had registered a case of rioting and attempt to murder against six Dalits following the incident. Subsequently, after large-scale protests by activists, three FIRs were registered against four policemen, all belonging to upper castes.

The cases related to the incidents are being probed by the CID (Crime). The agency has submitted a report before a court concerned recommending to drop the attempt to murder charges against the Dalit accused. It also stated that the accused police officers had fabricated serious charges against the Dalit accused.